Q: Our parish insists on having the children stand during the Eucharistic
Prayers at school Masses, although there are kneelers in the pews. The
children stand from the prayers of the faithful until the end of the "Lamb
of God." They then kneel before and after Communion. This has been going
on for about three years in order to teach them "the new way." Is this
happening globally?
— D.R.,
Joliet, Illinois

A: Whoever invented this "new way," it was not the U.S. bishops.

The norms for kneeling in the United States are the following, as found in
the approved adaptation of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal,
No. 43.

"In the dioceses of the United States of America, they should kneel
beginning after the singing or recitation of the Sanctus until after the
Amen of the Eucharistic Prayer, except when prevented on occasion by
reasons of health, lack of space, the large number of people present, or
some other good reason. Those who do not kneel ought to make a profound
bow when the priest genuflects after the consecration. The faithful kneel
after the Agnus Dei unless the Diocesan Bishop determines otherwise."

The universal norms for the Roman Missal indicate kneeling during the
consecration, from the epiclesis to the acclamation after the
consecration. This is the common practice in Italy and some other European
and Latin American countries.

There is no provision in the Latin Church allowing for standing during the
whole Eucharistic Prayer except in the exceptional conditions mentioned in
No. 43. ZE04092822